Tinian

Tinian, island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, western Pacific Ocean, formerly administered by the United States (1947-1986) under a United Nations trusteeship, and by Japan (1919-1944) under a mandate of the League of Nations. Tinian is a coral island 16 km (10 mi) long and 6 km (4 mi) wide. It is notable for its herds of wild cattle and its ancient ruins, consisting of two rows of truncated pyramids built of masonry. Following World War I the island, formerly a German possession, became one of the most heavily fortified Japanese bases in the Pacific. During World War II, U.S. forces invaded Tinian on July 23, 1944, and brought the island under American control within a week. Tinian then became a powerful base for air operations against the Japanese home islands. Population (1990) 2,118.